These Two Kittens Were Cute Enough to Stop a Train

Further proof that cats run the world took place in Brooklyn, New York City, yesterday when two little lost kittens caused the subway system to come to a halt for nearly two hours after they found their way down on to the tracks.

The shenanigans took place at the Church Avenue station, with commuters kept waiting while the police and transit workers put a rescue mission into place.

Kittens at the Church Avenue subway station in Brooklyn via Marc A. Hermann

The pair of kittens, dubbed August and Arthur by Metropolitan Transit Authority workers, were first spotted at around 11 a.m. A plan to scoop up the black and tabby scamps failed because, according to an M.T.A. spokesperson, the kittens were too fast and kept eluding the M.T.A. workers on the tracks! (Power to the tracks was shut off.)

Service was resumed with subway cars on the B and Q lines told to travel through the station at a slow and cautious speed. At one point, August and Arthur were spotted taking a quick nap by the usually deadly third rail, apparently oblivious to their dangerous surroundings.

Kittens on the train tracks. Via Marc A. Hermann

With the New York Police Department now on the scene, a second rescue operation was put into effect -- and this time two cops managed to grab the kittens after a panicky game of chase. The kittens were then whisked off to the nearby Brooklyn Animal Care Shelter for a thorough medical check-up. Assuming they come through their medical okay, August and Arthur will be put up for adoption soon.

In the meantime, the New York City subway kittens have become overnight Internet sensations. The latest coverage involves a picture of them being turned into a meme speculating that they avoided paying their fare by hopping a barrier. Technically, that means August and Arthur could be liable for fines up to $100 each -- but we suspect they'll be let off for being so darn cute.